DAILY CLIPS

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

LOCAL NEWS: Thursday, June 25, 2020

Purple Insider

A look at the highest QB rated game in Vikings history By Matthew Coller https://purpleinsider.substack.com/p/a-look-at-the-highest-qb-rated-game

NATIONAL NEWS: Thursday, June 25, 2020

CBS Sports

Rob Gronkowski returns: Ranking the 10 best NFL comebacks out of retirement in history By Jeff Kerr https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/rob-gronkowski-returns-ranking-the-10-best-nfl-comebacks-out-of-retirement-in- history/

Maven Media

81 Days Until Vikings Football: What Will Do in Year Two? By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/81-days-vikings-football-countdown-bisi-johnson-receiver

Two Vikings Rookie Records that Could be Broken in 2020 By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/two-vikings-rookie-records-broken-2020-jefferson-osborn

MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Thursday, June 25, 2020

Latest on The Team's Efforts With Social Justice By VEN https://www.vikings.com/video/latest-on-the-team-s-efforts-with-social-justice

Kevin Seifert on 's Status, NFC North Favorite In 2020, Next Steps For , and More By VEN https://www.vikings.com/video/full-show-vikingsathome

Full Show: #VikingsAtHome By VEN https://www.vikings.com/video/game-by-game-predictions-for-the-full-vikings-2020-schedule

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Thursday, June 25, 2020

10 Takeaways from Virtual Vikings Offseason Program By Eric Smith, Craig Peters, Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/2020-virtual-offseason-program

Lunchbreak: Kendricks Ranked 2nd-Best LB in NFL by CBS Sports By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/eric-kendricks-ranked-2nd-best-linebacker-in-nfl

PUBLICATION: Purple Insider DATE: 6/25/20

A look at the highest QB rated game in Vikings history

By Matthew Coller

Since Mike Zimmer arrived in Minnesota in 2014, Everson Griffen had 17.5 career sacks in 59 games and one start By the time arrived in Minnesota for the first time, he had already been on one heck of an NFL journey.

He won a starting job in Washington after top draft pick Heath Schuler went bust and made a in 1996 but after a 6-6-1 season in 1997 he was replaced by in 1998. Frerotte spent a year in Detroit and then backed up in Denver for two seasons before playing one miserable season with Cincinnati in 2002.

At that point he’d gone 12-18-1 as a starter with a 75.8 rating since his Pro Bowl season in D.C. so when the Vikings approached him about backing up , he welcomed the opportunity.

“I was with the Bengals and that wasn’t a good situation,” Frerotte told the Purple Insider podcast. “I remember coach [Mike] Tice and coming to visit me in Cincinnati and we hit it off pretty well and from that point on and I loved his offense. He was very similar to the first style of offense I was in when I played for the Redskins. Getting to the Vikings, instantly molded with everyone there and had the same viewpoint of how football is played.”

Culpepper was coming off a season in which he’d struggled to repeat his miraculous 2000 debut for the second straight year and needed to prove that he could get back to his video-game-stat performances. Frerotte was the perfect man to work with the young, gifted QB.

Linehan and Tice trusted Frerotte to the point that on gameday the backup QB relayed the play calls from Linehan in the booth to Culpepper on the field. Frerotte would offer bits of advice as he sent in the plays.

“Daunte and I were every meeting together and we had all our notes from the coaches, I was able to tell him stuff rather than just saying, ‘here’s the play,’” Frerotte said. “I could say, ‘hey look, if it’s cover-2, think here, if it’s cover-1, think here, be alert for this.’”

Calling in the plays helped Frerotte stay engaged in the game and when it came to jumping into the offense on September 28, 2003, he felt relaxed, knowing that Culpepper was the solidified starter and he was just filling the spot for a few weeks.

Playing relaxed fit Frerotte well. He flung the ball all over the field against the that day, racking up 267 yards on 16-for-21 passing with four and zero , good for a 157.2 QB rating, the highest single-game rating in Vikings history. Minnesota won 35-7 and advanced to 4-0 in a season that would ultimately end in disappointment.

What Frerotte had that many journeyman backups lack was the mentality that he was going to play loose when he got the chance. And with Randy Moss at the peak of his career, it was easy to let it fly. Frerotte opened the game with a 22-yard pass to Moss. He handed off to the Vikings’ trio of backs, Moe Williams, Ontario Smith and John Avery and then threw it to Moss again for his first — a 15-yard fade in which Moss jumped over a 49er DB like he was a grade schooler.

In the second quarter, Frerotte struck again for his second TD to Moss, this time a fade from 35 yards out.

“The thing about Randy was, he could do it on a little fade when you’re on the 5-yard line or he could do it when you’re on the other 25 and run 60 yards and catch it like it’s no big deal,” Frerotte said. “His body never got out of control and that’s what made him great. He had great hands, unbelievable speed but a lot of guys have speed but when the ball is coming down and there’s somebody on on your heels. He was just uncanny in how he wouldn’t let the defender know the ball was coming. And if he had to he’d pick a peanut off somebody’s head and go over top of them and grab it.”

Approaching the end of the first half the Vikings were up 21-0 and rolling on offense. Gus went for the kill.

Minnesota got the ball with 1:52 left in the half and he started slinging. After hitting a 22-yard pass to Nate Burleson and 13-yarder to Williams, the Vikings were in scoring position. The easy choice was another fade to Moss, who toe- tapped in the back of the end zone for his most brilliant catch of the day.

Frerotte distinctly remembers the plan: When Moss is one-on-one, you throw him the ball.

“They talk about going through his reads, looking for match-ups, I don’t care who you are, if you have Randy Moss one-on-one, that’s where you’re going,” Frerotte said. “We played the Lions one year, he had a bad back, it was cover-2, there was a guy on him and there was a safety over the top and I still threw a fade to him and he beat them both. He was just an amazing player.”

But Moss was flagged for offensive interference on his quest for a third touchdown, pushing the Vikings back. Not to be denied, Frerotte fired a bullet to Burleson for a 22-yard touchdown, marking the first touchdown of Burleson’s career. Frerotte let out a celebration that would have impressed .

“We still talk about that now and then,” Frerotte said of his TD to Burleson. “It was a cover-2 beater, he was running a seam down the middle because they’re playing Moss…Nate beats the linebacker or nickel back, you just get a little window and you have to fire it in there. I was excited because he got his first touchdown. Guys come into the NFL and make plays like that, that’s their dreams coming true.”

On the other side of the field, Terrell Owens was captured screaming at the 49ers’ offensive coordinator and was struggling mightily. The Vikings began winding clock in the third quarter but on the opening play of the fourth, Frerotte hit a dagger throw that may have been the most air yards of any pass he ever completed.

He stepped up past the rush, wound up and heaved it to Moss, who cruised by two 49er defenders for a 59-yard touchdown.

“You don’t get many opportunities to throw it that far or have a guy open that far down field,” Frerotte said. “Funny that you mention that it’s like an outfielder throw because when you watch all the that have played with Randy, their highlights are all throws like that. They’re winding up and letting it rip and he’s catching it 60 or 65 yards downfield and toe-tapping in the end zone. Those are the things you got to do with him.”

Frerotte gets a kick out of talking about his two games with Moss. Behind the scenes they played dominos together and the journeyman QB enjoyed nothing more than flinging it to Moss — especially when the megastar receiver would toss up his hand indicating that he was switching the route on the fly.

“He always said, ‘if I’m playing somebody and I have a comeback [route], I’m going to put my hand up and I’m just going to take off,” Frerotte said. “And I’m like, ‘OK cool.’”

Frerotte only threw one more pass the rest of the fourth quarter and then kneeled down for his first win as a Viking.

“I remember that game, it seemed like everybody was open,” Frerotte said. “I don’t know why, you just have games like that. You’re going to put it in there and you’re hard to stop. We just had that kind of offense that year.”

The following week, Frerotte did it again. The Vikings won a shootout with the Falcons 39-26 and he tossed two more touchdowns to Moss.

He didn’t get another chance to start that season and the Vikings went on to see the season fall apart at the hands of another journeyman QB Josh McCown, who threw a last-second touchdown to Nate Poole in Arizona to boot Minnesota from the postseason.

Frerotte never found another coach who would let him send in the plays but he did return to Minnesota in 2008 and won eight games in 11 starts. From 2003 until the end of his career, Frerotte went 20-11 as a starter.

Nobody has topped his late-September ‘03 performance and it’s plausible that they never will.

****

Couple of notes:

— did have one perfectly rated game in 1970 for the in which he only threw 18 passes, five of which were touchdowns.

— Tarkenton’s best game as a Viking came in a 51-10 blowout over Houston in 1974. He went 18-for-24 with three touchdowns and a 151.7 rating.

— has the second highest rated game at 154.4 in 2015 versus Chicago.

— Daunte Culpepper has the only loss in the top 10 rated games (34-31 to Green Bay in 2004)

— ’s six-touchdown, zero game in 1986 only had a 135.2 rating

PUBLICATION: CBS Sports DATE: 6/25/20

Rob Gronkowski returns: Ranking the 10 best NFL comebacks out of retirement in history

By Jeff Kerr

High expectations await Rob Gronkowski as the former All-Pro tight end came out of retirement after one year to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- and reunite with good friend Tom Brady. Gronkowski already has his Hall of Fame resume sealed, but he can add to his legacy as one of the best tight ends to ever play the game with a strong finish in Tampa.

Gronkowski isn't the first high-profile NFL player to be lured out of retirement, and he likely won't be the last. Former NFL greats who returned to the game after officially retiring have typically performed at a high level, even in their mid-to-late 30s. Gronkowski is just 31 years old and still in his prime, so a good season or two may be ahead if he can stay healthy.

These 10 NFL greats didn't need to return to football, but each had reasons to return and played at a high level in their second NFL life. Here are the 10 best NFL returns by players who had retired from the league:

10. Reggie White White shockingly returned to the NFL after retiring as a First Team All-Pro and finishing with 16 sacks with the in 1998 -- at 36 years old. The Carolina Panthers were looking to bolster their pass rush and lured White out of retirement in 2000, signing him to a five-year deal.

White finished with a career-low 5.5 sacks, even though he started all 16 games at 38 years old. Not bad considering he signed in late July, when Panthers training camp was set to begin. He actually finished second on the team in sacks.

White retired for good after the season as the NFL's all-time sacks leader with 198 (which Bruce Smith surpassed in 2003).

9. Ricky Williams Shocking the NFL by retiring in his prime, Williams had tested positive for marijuana for a second time and was facing a four-game suspension. Using the time to "find himself," Williams studied Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of holistic medicine, for a year before deciding to return.

Williams started just three games in his first season back in 2005 with the Dolphins, rushing for 743 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. He failed a drug test for a fourth time, and was suspended for the entire 2006 season -- playing for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts to stay in football shape.

Williams rushed for 1,121 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2009 at the age of 32 (despite only starting seven games). After a 2007 season which he had to apply for reinstatement to the league, Williams didn't miss a game in the last four years of his career.

He rushed for 3,655 yards and 25 touchdowns in the six seasons following his retirement. Williams wasn't the same player that took over the league in his first five seasons.

8. James Harrison Harrison initially retired with the Steelers at 36 years old in 2014, but wasn't away from the NFL for long. Thanks to injuries piling up on the Steelers defense, Harrison was lured out of retirement weeks later. He started just four games, but finished with 5.5 sacks and 14 hits in 11 games.

Harrison never made a Pro Bowl in the four years after his return, even though he was the emotional leader on the Steelers defense. He recorded 15.5 sacks and 38 quarterback hits with two interceptions in a part-time role with Pittsburgh the first three seasons back, all in his late 30s.

The Steelers played Harrison just 29 snaps in the first 12 games of the 2017 season, leading to his release in December of that year. The 39-year-old Harrison signed a contract with the Steelers arch-rival, the , days later and had two sacks in his first game with the team, a Week 17 win over the New York Jets.

Harrison started LII and played 91% of the snaps, finishing with two quarterback hits against the Philadelphia Eagles. He retired after the 2017 season, recording 17.5 sacks and 42 quarterback hits since returning at 36 years old.

7. Deion Sanders Hard to believe Sanders played at a high level at 37 years old, missing three seasons after retiring from the NFL in 2000. Sanders still had an itch to play and something to prove. Sanders actually was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Chargers in 2002 when Washington released him from the reserve/retired list, but it was too late for him to be activated so he never played a game for the franchise.

Ray Lewis helped lure Sanders out of retirement in 2004 when he signed with the Baltimore Ravens, playing the slot after a decade as one of the best outside cornerbacks in the game. Sanders played in just nine games his first season back, but finished with three interceptions and had five passes defensed. He also returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown in Week 7 against the , tying Ken Houston and for second place in interception returns for touchdowns in league history.

Sanders played two years in Baltimore, finishing with five interceptions and 10 passes defensed in 25 games, retiring for good at 38. There aren't many cornerbacks who played well in their late 30s, but Sanders was one of them.

6. Hard to make a top 10 list without mentioning Cunningham's massive return to the NFL. After the Philadelphia Eagles released Cunningham and the St. Louis Rams failed to sign him, Cunningham walked away from the game at 33.

Cunningham, who was a studio analyst for TNT and ran a granite business, signed with the in 1997 as Dennis Green needed a backup quarterback. The former Bert Bell award winner had plenty of game left in him. Cunningham earned the starting job in Week 15 of the 1997 season and led the Vikings to a thrilling 23-22 overtime win over the New York Giants in the NFC Wild Card round, conducting two late scoring drives in the win.

The 1998 season was Cunningham's best in the NFL, as he threw for 3,704 yards and 34 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions to lead the Vikings to a 15-1 record. Cunningham threw four touchdown passes in four separate games and led the NFL with a 106.0 , earning First Team All-Pro honors at the age of 35. He threw for 505 yards and five touchdowns in two playoff games, but the Vikings were shocked in overtime by the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game, thanks to a missed 38-yard field goal by Gary Anderson -- who hadn't missed a kick all year.

Cunningham never recaptured that 1998 magic and lost his starting job in 1999, but played three more years as a backup quarterback. He signed a one-day contract to retire with the Eagles in 2002. Cunningham threw for 7,102 yards and 57 touchdowns to 29 interceptions following his return.

5. Ed "Too Tall" Jones Ed "Too Tall" Jones retired from the NFL at 28 after the 1978 season to pursue a boxing career. He actually went unbeaten in his six fights, but wasn't considered a true heavyweight contender. Jones returned to the in 1980 with his best years ahead of him.

Boxing made Jones a better football player, as the Cowboys legend made three Pro Bowls and was a First Team All- Pro selection once in the 10 seasons after his return. Sacks weren't an official stat until 1982, but Jones recorded 57.5 of them in the eight seasons they were official -- all after the age of 31. Jones missed just one game since returning to football and finished with 13 sacks in 1985 and 10 sacks in 1987 (at the age of 36).

Somehow Jones isn't in the Cowboys "Ring of Honor" nor the Hall of Fame. He should be in both.

4. Bronko Nagurski Nagurski took five seasons off before returning to the game in 1943, at the age of 35. The Bears were short of football players due to World War II, so Nagurski decided to come back as a tackle (he played fullback in his first eight seasons with Chicago).

The Bears were trailing in a must-win game late in the season against the Chicago Cardinals, so they moved Nagurski back to fullback. Nagurski scored a touchdown to put the Bears within one score in the fourth quarter, as Chicago scored 21 unanswered points in the final quarter to send the Bears to the NFL Championship Game.

Nagurski scored on a 3-yard run to give Chicago the lead for good in the title game, finishing with 11 carries for 34 yards and a score in a 41-21 victory. Nagurski went out on top after being away from the game for half a decade, one of the best returns in league history.

3. Brett Favre Favre actually retired twice, in 2008 with the Green Bay Packers and in 2009 with the New York Jets -- two of the weirdest sagas in NFL history.

His decision to retire the first time came after Favre made a Pro Bowl at the age of 38 and he led the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Championship Game in that same season (2007). Shortly after announcing his retirement, Favre decided to return that summer.

The Packers moved on from Favre and traded him to the New York Jets, where he led the league with 22 interceptions, but made the Pro Bowl. Favre completed 65.7% of his passes and threw for 3,472 yards and 22 touchdowns as the Jets collapsed from an 8-3 start to finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs. Favre played with a torn biceps tendon in his right shoulder the final month of that season.

Shortly after the Jets' season ended, Favre retired again, only to come back and quarterback the Minnesota Vikings in August of 2009. He had arguably the best season of his career at age 40, completing 68.4% of his passes while throwing for 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns to just seven interceptions (107.2 passer rating).

The Vikings reached the NFC Championship Game as Favre took the eventual Super Bowl champion to overtime. Favre played one more season in Minnesota before retiring for good at age 41. He started 321 straight games at quarterback (regular season and postseason) and did not miss a game until his final season.

Favre played his best football into his 40s with a shortened offseason, adding to his legendary career.

2. John Riggins Whether Riggins actually retired from the NFL is up for debate, but the Washington Redskins actually did place him on the retired list in 1980. Riggins wanted to renegotiate his $300,000-per-year deal with the Redskins, but the team refused. Riggins left camp that season and the team placed him on the camp-retired list, preventing him from going to another organization.

New Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs wanted Riggins back and gave him a peace offering. Riggins asked for a no- trade clause in his contract, and the Redskins obliged.

Riggins returned at 32 years old, and he was dominant into his mid 30s. Riggins rushed for 4,530 yards and 62 touchdowns in five seasons, having two 1,000-yard seasons and leading the league in touchdowns twice (including a staggering 24 in 1983 at the age of 34). His finest performance came in Super Bowl XVII, rushing 38 times for 166 yards and a touchdown -- a 43-yard run on fourth-and-1 that gave the Redskins the lead for good and became one of the most iconic plays in NFL history.

Those final five years made Riggins a Hall of Famer, capped with a Super Bowl MVP award and a single-season touchdown record that stood for 12 years.

1. Otto Graham Graham retired from the NFL after the 1954 season, after the crushed the 56-10 in the NFL Championship Game. Head coach Paul Brown begged Graham to return after his replacement quarterbacks struggled in the 1955 preseason.

Graham returned and had one of his finest seasons at 33 years old, leading the league in completion percentage (53.1), yards per attempt (9.3) and passer rating (94.0), throwing for 1,721 yards and 15 touchdowns as the Browns returned to the NFL Championship Game. He also was the UPI MVP and a First Team All-Pro.

Graham threw for two touchdowns and rushed for two touchdowns as the Browns crushed the 38-14 in the title game. He walked off the field with his seventh pro football championship in his 10 seasons (three in NFL, four in All- Conference) -- making a championship game in all 10 seasons he played professional football.

Not only did Graham leave a champion, but he had the best post-retirement comeback of all time.

PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 6/25/20

81 Days Until Vikings Football: What Will Bisi Johnson Do in Year Two?

By Will Ragatz

As we count down the days until the Vikings' opener against the Packers on September 13th, InsideTheVikings will be previewing every single player on the roster. The amount of days remaining corresponds with the jersey number of the player being examined on that day. Today is June 24th, and there are 81 days until kickoff for the 2020 regular season. Our player preview for today looks at a young receiver who impressed as a rookie.

Countdown to Vikings-Packers on September 13th: 81 Days

Player Preview: Bisi Johnson (No. 81, ) USATSI_13545477_168388404_lowres College: Colorado State Drafted: 2019 seventh round (247th overall) NFL experience: One year Age: 23 (Birthday was in March) Size: 6'0", 204 2019 PFF Grade: 63.7 Notable 2019 stats: 31 catches, 294 yards, 3 touchdowns

Bisi Johnson was one of the biggest pleasant surprises of the 2019 season for the Vikings. The 247th overall pick was the 28th of 28 wide receivers selected in last year's draft, yet he finished 11th among his class with 294 receiving yards as a rookie. In year two, he'll look to hold off several competitors for the Vikings' WR3 job and continue to grow in 's offense.

A native of the Denver suburbs, Johnson starred in football and track in high school. Despite that success, he was mostly overlooked in the recruiting process. Johnson was the 222nd-ranked receiver in his high school class, with his only DI offers coming from Colorado State, Northern Colorado, and Army. He chose CSU and went on to have a strong career in Fort Collins.

After playing sparingly as a freshman, Johnson emerged as the Rams' No. 2 receiver – behind current Cowboys star Michael Gallup – in his sophomore season. He set a school record with 265 receiving yards on just seven receptions in the 2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and finished the year with 613 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson posted similar numbers in 2017 with Gallup continuing to dominate targets. As a senior, he recorded career highs of 54 catches and 796 yards, but still played second fiddle, this time to Tennessee transfer and current Miami Dolphin Preston Williams.

Johnson posted solid numbers at the 2019 combine, including a 38-inch vertical jump and a 4.51 40. Due to his relative lack of production in the Mountain West and his lack of elite testing numbers, he fell all the way to the end of the seventh round. But much like he did as an under-recruited high school player, Johnson out-performed expectations in his first NFL training camp.

When the Vikings began camp last July, Johnson was roughly the 8th receiver on the depth chart. A little over a month later, he was one of four receivers to make the 53-man roster. Johnson shined in the preseason, catching four of his five targets for 87 yards and a touchdown.

He opened the season as the Vikings' WR4, but an early injury to moved him up to the key third slot. Johnson's snaps jumped from 22 combined over the first three games to 34 in Week 4, and he responded with four catches for 35 yards. A week later against the Giants, he posted four catches for 43. Johnson caught each of his first nine targets of the season, establishing himself as a reliable possession receiver for Kirk Cousins.

Week 7 in Detroit was a big one for Johnson. went down with a hamstring injury on a first quarter touchdown catch, thrusting the rookie into a starting role as the Vikings' WR2. He saw a career-high eight targets, catching four for 40 yards and his first career touchdown.

Johnson was suddenly a nearly every-down player in the Vikings' offense, exceeding 50 snaps in six of seven games between Weeks 7 and 14. He didn't light the league on fire, but he continued to be a dependable target for Cousins and finished the season with a 31/294/3 line. Johnson also caught two passes in the wild card round of the playoffs. His highlight of the season was this leaping touchdown grab in the second meeting with the Lions:

The door was briefly open for Johnson to take over as the No. 2 receiver in 2020 when the Vikings traded Stefon Diggs, but the selection of all but slammed that door shut. Instead, Johnson will compete with free agent pickup Tajae Sharpe and a host of others for the WR3 job.

Vikings Receivers Preview: Justin Jefferson Isn't Stefon Diggs, and That's OK

Sharpe has more NFL experience, but Johnson has the benefit of knowing Kubiak's offense and having a rapport with Cousins after playing a year in the system. Another thing Johnson has going for him is his ability as a blocker on the outside; he weighs ten pounds more than Sharpe and was impressive in that area as a rookie.

Johnson isn't the biggest, fastest, or most elusive receiver out there. He was never a No. 1 receiver in college and will never be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL. But he's got a solid combination of all three of those things and – most importantly – is a good route-runner with steady hands. Johnson has massive 10 and 3/8th-inch hands (95th percentile among WRs) and ranked first among all Vikings receivers with a catch percentage of 69 last year.

I can see Johnson carving out a long career as a possession receiver with some upside. For 2020, he's almost a sure thing to make the roster, it's just a question of whether or not he'll secure that WR3 job and the playing time that comes with it.

Other WR player previews:

No. 89: Bralon Addison No. 85: You can find every single player preview to date – plus other offseason content – in this handy spreadsheet. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 6/25/20

Two Vikings Rookie Records that Could be Broken in 2020

By Will Ragatz

The Vikings received widespread praise for their haul in the 2020 NFL Draft. Rick Spielman aced Day 1, landed a lot of upside at positions of need on Day 2, and went on to set a league record with 15 selections in seven rounds.

Each of those picks was made with the future of the organization in mind. Still, many of the Vikings' rookies will play important roles in 2020, even though their first NFL offseason has taken place under unusual circumstances. The Vikings will likely have to lean on quite a few young players after losing a significant amount of talent in March.

With that in mind, here are two franchise rookie records that could be broken this season.

Justin Jefferson – Receptions Vikings rookie record: 69 (Randy Moss, 1998)

The Vikings' first selection of this year's draft was Jefferson, an extremely skilled and athletic wide receiver prospect from LSU. The No. 22 overall pick will immediately replace Stefon Diggs as a starting receiver for the Vikings in 2020, and he'll have the opportunity to put up some strong numbers in his rookie season.

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All three of the Vikings' single-season rookie receiving records belong to Randy Moss, who burst onto the scene in '98 with 69 catches, 1,313 yards, and 17 touchdowns. The latter two are well out of reach for Jefferson, but it's not crazy to think that 70 receptions is within the realm of possibility. He would need to average 4.4 catches per game over a full season to get there.

Jefferson caught 111 passes in 15 games last season while playing out of the slot in Joe Brady's high-octane offense. He's an excellent route-runner with sure hands and the ability to go up and make contested catches, which should quickly make him a trusted option for Kirk Cousins. Jefferson will likely see a lot of snaps from the slot in 2020 and could see a steady volume of targets in the passing game with defenses keying in on Adam Thielen. In 2019, Diggs caught 63 passes in 15 games while serving as the team's deep threat. It's possible that Jefferson could have more receptions than Diggs did, but with a much lower yards per catch average.

Still, 70 catches is a lot. Only six rookie receivers have reached that mark since 2010: Keenan Allen, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Kelvin Benjamin, Amari Cooper, and Michael Thomas. Jefferson has a shot at breaking Moss's record, but it won't be easy.

The Vikings' single-game rookie catches record is nine, set by Sammy White in 1976.

K.J. Osborn – Return Yardage Vikings rookie record: 247 (Keenan Howry, 2003)

Four rounds after they drafted Jefferson, the Vikings added another receiver. However, Osborn is a longshot to contribute meaningfully as a pass-catcher in 2020, as he's fifth (at best) on the depth chart behind Thielen, Jefferson, Tajae Sharpe, and Bisi Johnson. Where Osborn fits into the puzzle this season is as Minnesota's new punt returner; he's the clear favorite to replace Marcus Sherels in that role.

If Osborn secures that job and holds onto it all season, he'll have a great chance to break the Vikings' rookie record for punt return yardage. It currently stands at just 247 yards and was set by Howry, a seventh-round pick who only lasted three seasons in the NFL.

Sherels didn't start returning punts for the Vikings until his second season, but he surpassed 275 yards in each of the next eight years. A team typically has between 25 and 30 punt returns in a season, which means the average needed to reach 248 is roughly between 8 and 10 yards. Throughout his college career, Osborn averaged 12.1 yards per return, including 15.9 last year at Miami.

The Vikings' rookie record (min. 20 attempts) of 10.1 yards per punt return, set in 1968 by Charlie West, is also very attainable for Osborn. Of course, this is all assuming that he wins the job in training camp over players like Mike Hughes and Bralon Addison.

Any others? Receptions and punt return yardage are the only two that seem even remotely realistic. and could both potentially start this season, but neither of them is going to break Orlando Thomas's record of nine interceptions as a rookie in 1995. Remember that tied for the NFL lead with six picks last year.

James Lynch could start at three-tech for the Vikings, but he's not going to break Keith Millard's record of 11.0 sacks (set in 1985). That remains the NFL record for sacks by a rookie defensive tackle, though Ndamukong Suh came close with 10.0 in 2010.

The Vikings' rookie passing records aren't particularly impressive, but let's not even think about a scenario where is playing enough to break those. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 6/25/20

10 Takeaways from Virtual Vikings Offseason Program

By Eric Smith, Craig Peters, Lindsey Young

Normally at this point in the calendar, we've seen more than a dozen offseason practices — from rookie minicamp through voluntary organized team activities and a mandatory minicamp — and made multiple observations from those sessions.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, however, canceled all in-person offseason programs for each team, prompted meetings and "walk-throughs" to occur virtually and required interviews with coaches and players to be conducted via video conferences or phone calls.

There are still plenty of questions to answer for the Vikings once teams are able to open training camp, but Eric Smith, Lindsey Young and Craig Peters put together 10 takeaways from the virtual Vikings offseason program.

1. Adaptability the best ability this offseason | By Craig Peters

Coaches are famously creatures of habit, with many thriving when they can continue implementing what they've found to be successful or maybe make subtle changes over the course of time.

Head Coach Mike Zimmer has made multiple adjustments since his hire in 2014, a span that includes the team's move from Winter Park to Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. That includes training camp last year when he shortened players' days and implemented other changes designed to help them stay fresh over the course of the season.

Zimmer Joins PA To Discuss Virtual Meetings and Teaching Technique, Depth at CB, Kubiak Leading The Offense, More Some say the best ability in football is availability, but in an unprecedented 2020, it might be adaptability.

The Vikings ramped up their use of technology for meetings and tried to maximize efficiencies even though coaches and players were scattered from coast to coast.

Zimmer did admit that he relied on help from Co-Defensive Coordinator Adam Zimmer with some of the technology to transform Zimmer Ridge Ranch in Northern Kentucky — normally an escape from it all — into functional workspaces (Mike worked upstairs, and Adam worked downstairs) with benefits. Zimmer Ridge Ranch now features a few golf holes and driving range on the property and a meat smoker. It also includes an outdoor space where the father-son coaching duo drew up ideas on a whiteboard and visualized potential innovations.

This Vikings staff has a blend of well-established coaches who have thrived for 25-plus years in the NFL and emerging youngbloods who are excited to help in every way possible.

Veteran coaches complimented multiple younger coaches for their help with technology, and the assists provided could help build a connection between a group that usually bonds during in-person meetings.

Another adaptation occurred when Zimmer opted to wrap up the offseason program for veterans ahead of the initial schedule.

Vikings 2020 Coaching Staff View photos of the Vikings 2020 coaching staff.

2. Eyes still on the offensive line | By Eric Smith

Perhaps this is the biggest question when the Vikings finally hit the practice field: who are the first five players who make up the offensive line?

The Vikings have a mix of veterans and youngsters on the roster. Minnesota released veteran right guard Josh Kline but added three linemen in the draft, beginning with in the second round.

Bradbury Looks Back On His Rookie Season, Talks Goals For 2020, Training With Teammates, More is back and feeling more comfortable as he prepares for his second season at center. Brian O'Neill is entering his third campaign after starting 26 of 30 games played in the previous two seasons at right tackle.

But does Cleveland win the left tackle job as a rookie and shift Riley Reiff inside to guard, or does Reiff continue to be the blindside bookend and maybe work with Cleveland at left guard, where Pat Elflein started all 15 games he played last season after manning the middle for 27 games from 2017-18?

Vikings GM Rick Spielman called both guard spots "an open competition" in the spring, and that mantra still holds true today.

Veteran could be in the mix there, along with and Aviante Collins — non-rookies who also don't have a ton of game experience.

Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak admitted that the virtual offseason might hamper some players more than others, but he expects plenty of competition when training camp does get underway.

"I would say it's tough for some of those young guys. I'd love for Dru and Oli [Udoh] and those guys to have about 15 practices under their belt," Kubiak said. "Riley's a veteran, Garrett's got a lot of snaps under his belt after one year, obviously Pat does; we lost Josh, and obviously Brian's a good, young player. I think those guys who played all those snaps last year, I think they'll be fine. They'll adjust very well.

"Dru's going to have to catch up, Oli's going to have to catch up, AC. I think we've created a very competitive and a very flexible group, so we've just got to get to work and see how this is going to pan out," Kubiak added. "I say it all the time, 'We're going to play our best five.' But I like our group, I like our players. There's so many things we can improve upon as coaches and players, and I look forward to getting to work on doing that."

Kubiak on Cook's Value and Importance, Vision For Jefferson's Role, Year Two For Smith Jr., and More 3. After further review, Kubiak 'impressed' by progress | by Lindsey Young

Following the 2019 season, Vikings coaches spent time going through and evaluating film from each game.

Was there anything that jumped out at or surprised Kubiak? Minnesota's new offensive coordinator said "impressed" might be the right word. Reflecting on the season as a whole, Kubiak is proud of the way the Vikings offense picked up a new scheme and executed it throughout the year.

"I know there was some overlap [from] what they had done in the past, but Kevin [Stefanski] did a tremendous job of meshing what I'd done for years and what they wanted to hold onto," said Kubiak, who joined the Vikings last season as an assistant head coach/offensive advisor. "I think we made up some ground really, really quickly. There's always things you can do better, but I think the good thing is, we've been able to go back and evaluate every play probably 10 times over and decide where we want to continue to grow and what we maybe want to take out."

Kubiak added "hopefully that path can continue" into the 2020 season.

Every Stadium Where the Vikings Will Play in 2020 View photos of the stadiums where the Vikings will play during the 2020 season.

4. Coaches focused on coaching | By Craig Peters

Time flies, and so does Dalvin Cook.

It's hard to believe the running back is at the onset of the final year of his rookie contract. The 2017 second-round suffered an ACL injury that ended his rookie year after just four games.

An early hamstring hampered him in much of 2018.

Last season, however, he had career bests of 1,135 rushing yards and 13 scores in 14 games.

Kubiak is well-aware of Cook's talents and the time remaining on the running back's rookie deal. The former head coach in Houston and Denver said it is important for coaches to stay focused on their jobs and let General Manager Rick Spielman and the personnel staff work on contract talks with players.

Pro Football Focus Examines Dalvin Cook's Contract Situation

"Dalvin's a great player, I don't have to tell you guys that. He's a great person, also," Kubiak said. "I've been around Dalvin one year, and I knew a lot about him as a player when he came out. Obviously, he's stepped to the plate and played very well.

"When it comes to contracts, I'm not a negotiator. That's between Rick and Dalvin, but it's part of the business. We all understand that," Kubiak added. "Those guys will do their jobs, and we have to stay focused on our jobs as a football team going forward. We support Dalvin … Rick and he will go about their business … but we've got to get ready to play this season, so we'll stay focused on that."

5. Commitment to running to continue | By Craig Peters

Some have bandied about the importance of a running back and committing high percentages of a team's salary cap to one player at the position.

Players can provide exceptional juice at the position, but late picks have shown they can produce — sometimes surpass — production of players who were drafted earlier. Kubiak's career will always be linked to success in the ground game. He was asked about the value of the position and quipped, "You're probably talking to the wrong guy there. I love running backs."

One thing is for certain, the Vikings appear ready to continue their commitment to the running game that helped Minnesota improve its rushing yardage from 1,493 yards in 2018 (30th in the NFL) to 2,133 a season ago (sixth in the NFL).

"I've had some really good [running backs] in my day, and I've got a couple world championship rings because of one I'm thinking of in my head right now (Denver's Terrell Davis, a 2017 Pro Football Hall of Famer who was drafted in the sixth round in 1995)," Kubiak said. "We believe in running the football, and obviously Dalvin did a hell of a job doing that last year, along with [] and Ameer [Abdullah], and [Mike] Boone came in and helped us out. I believe that's a big part of the game. You need everybody to win, but you guys know how much I think of a good back."

Kubiak was asked if his system brings out the best in any running back, and he pointed to the attitude of the team playing a role.

"Anything you do in football, if you're committed to something then you've probably got a pretty good chance of being successful at it," Kubiak said. "We really start our classroom offensively, we walk into the room and tell our guys, 'We're committed to running the football and being a physical team.' I work for a head coach that talks that same way."

6. Year 2 jump for Irv? | By Eric Smith

Each offseason, there's a player on each side of the ball who is seemingly ready to take the next jump in his NFL career.

Offensively, that buzz has been generated by Irv Smith, Jr., a second-round pick in 2019 who played in all 16 games as a rookie.

Smith hauled in 36 catches for 311 yards and two scores, and he seemed to get better and better as the season went along. Both of his touchdowns came over the final six games of the season, when his snap counts rose.

2019 Season in Photos: Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. View the top photos of Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. from the 2019 season.

Kubiak said last week that he saw plenty of flashes from Smith this past season but is ready to tap into more of that talent in 2020.

"Very impressed. That was a great pick by Rick. Irv was a great player coming out, very young, and the biggest thing for me, I just see so much upside," Kubiak said of the 21-year-old. "Watching Irv come into camp, we asked him to do a lot. I made him learn [fullback C.J. Ham's] position, as well as his tight end position.

"You watch throughout the course of the season, we called on Irv more and more. I think there's a big, big upside," Kubiak added. "I love Irv as a kid and a competitor. He really enjoys coming to work every day. And he's benefited from sitting right there next to [Kyle Rudolph] every day and watching a seasoned pro go about it. I think there's a lot more there, and Irv's going to give it to us, and I've got to make sure I get him in position to do that."

Smith is part of a tight ends room that also features Rudolph, , Brandon Dillon and Nakia Griffin- Stewart.

7. New decade, new defensive line | By Lindsey Young

The Vikings defensive line room looks different now than it did a year ago.

Linval Joseph and signed with the Chargers and Panthers, respectively, in free agency, and Everson Griffen voided his contract this offseason, becoming a free agent.

The Vikings signed veteran defensive tackle Michael Pierce in March and added three defensive linemen through the draft in D.J. Wonnum, James Lynch and .

Patterson Reflects on Several 2020 Vikings Draft Picks Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach Andre Patterson said he feels "really good" about the position group.

"We've got great competition in that room from top to bottom," Patterson said. "Obviously I'm excited about Ifeadi [Odenigbo] to continue to improve as a player. He made great strides last year, and he's a tremendous hard worker. I know he's busting his tail right now to continue to improve."

He specifically emphasized "great talent" among the defensive tackles. He appreciates the age range there, despite the loss of Joseph. In addition to Pierce, the Vikings also retained veteran Shamar Stephen.

"You've still got a good group of guys that are working to continue to progress their games, and I think we've got some guys that are ready to turn the corner," Patterson said. "It's going to be a great competition with that group throughout training camp to see how it's going to figure itself out.

"That's what you want as a coach," he continued. "Players have to keep the pressure on themselves because everybody is fighting for a job and nobody feels comfortable. That gives a chance for everybody to improve. I really love the makeup of that group."

8. Library of 'film' comes in handy | By Craig Peters

The Vikings aren't rebuilding their defense, but they are replenishing the roster on that side of the football, particularly up front and on the back end.

"I think the biggest thing about the NFL, it's about developing talent," Patterson said. "That's what you've gotta do. You can't keep everybody forever. Even though you would love to, as a coach, you've got to be willing to bring in talent, number one. And then number two, you've got to have confidence that you can develop that talent. I feel great about our defensive coaches and their ability to develop players, so to me, that's how you remain good for a long time. You've got to be willing to know that your job as a coach is to develop players. So I feel very confident in our defensive staff and that we can get that done."

Co-Defensive Coordinators Andre Patterson and Adam Zimmer Discuss Departures on Defense, Opportunities For Young Players, and More Adam Zimmer pointed to a core of returning veterans "that know how we do things around here and are going to help the new guys." Some of the best lessons will occur in person when veterans can demonstrate expectations and quickly pass along tips they've picked up over the years.

The help, however, has already started thanks to an extensive library practice and game "film" (easily relayed digital video) at the fingertips of Vikings coaches and players.

"Each player is going to have their own attributes that they are good at, but we need to show the players how to execute the scheme," Adam Zimmer said. "I've gone back in the linebackers room … and we've watched training camp practices from last year … so they can see how we're supposed to look and how we're not supposed to look in certain cases. I think it's very valuable to look at the way plays 'Mike' linebacker or the way Anthony Barr plays 'Sam.' It's something you have to do so these guys can get a visual of it because they can't physically do it right now."

Patterson said the Vikings used a reallocated window of time to create video clips for how each returnee played the run and rushed the passer.

9. Youth and inexperience in the secondary | By Eric Smith

Of the 16 defensive backs currently on Minnesota's roster, 11 are cornerbacks. And the player with the most NFL experience out of that group is Holton Hill, who has played all of 24 games after being picked up as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2018.

Yes, there is some inexperience there, but also a bevy of talent in a group that includes Mike Hughes, Hill, Kris Boyd, Marcus Sayles and a trio of 2020 draft picks in Jeff Gladney, Cameron Dantzler and .

Hughes, Hill and Boyd could get the first cracks at starting jobs among players who aren't rookies, but expect Gladney and Dantzler to fight for spots of their own, too.

Vikings 2020 Roster in Photos View photos of the Vikings 2020 roster as of June 21, 2020.

Kris Boyd is someone who could take a step forward in 2020.

"I like Kris a lot. I think he has a good mental attitude toward it. He works really hard at it," Adam Zimmer said. "You can give him one thing to do, and he'll work on it nonstop. He did that at the end of the year.

"He played great on special teams for us, and he's just going to hone in on the little details of the position and keep improving his technique," he added. "But I like his mental makeup, I think he's a competitor, and I think he wants to be great, and he's going to do everything he can to be in the mix for us."

At safety, the Vikings boast of arguably the top duo in Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris. But the trio behind them are all rookies in , Brian Cole II and Myles Dorn.

Smith and Harris will be counted upon to be leaders throughout the entire secondary.

10. Potential at punt returner | By Lindsey Young

During his video conference with Twin Cities media members, Special Teams Coordinator Marwan Maalouf was asked what improvements he hopes to see from the Vikings special teams in 2020.

Maalouf pointed out positives and negatives, saying he was impressed with punter 's performance last season and emphasized that "guys on the interior" of punt team were "excellent." He also pointed out a solid kick return game behind Abdullah.

Maalouf on Punt Return Candidates and Need To Improve There, Continuity with Specialists, Preparing Rookie Class, More

Maalouf is aiming for an uptick in the punt return game, however. The position was inconsistent in 2019 with a number of players contributing, including longtime punt returner Marcus Sherels being brought back twice.

The Vikings drafted receiver K.J. Osborn 176th overall in April, and Maalouf feels confident in Osborn's potential as a punt returner.

"He did it for Miami last year, with the Hurricanes, and I thought he did a really good job," Maalouf said.

"He gets downhill very quickly, has a knack for catching the ball. I think that's one of the most important things that always gets overlooked. I think people sometimes will look for athletic guys who can do it, but you've got to be able to catch the ball. He's actually done both in college – and done it very well.

"And you can see his explosiveness, and just his vision and his anticipation before he catches the ball. You can kind of see his eyes scanning," Maalouf added. "He's got the talent to do that, and I'm really looking forward to just getting together with him." PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 6/25/20

Lunchbreak: Kendricks Ranked 2nd-Best LB in NFL by CBS Sports

By Lindsey Young

It seems the rest of the world is catching onto the special player that is Eric Kendricks.

The Vikings linebacker earned All-Pro honors after his stellar 2019 performance and in January participated in his first career Pro Bowl. Most recently, Kendricks was ranked as the league's second-best linebacker by CBS Sports' Sean Wagner-McGough, who noted that he included only the "traditional" off-ball linebackers and not edge rushers (i.e. Khalil Mack, Von Miller or Chandler Jones). He wrote:

The anchor of the Vikings defense, Kendricks has been a quality linebacker for a while now. But in 2019, he experienced a career season that vaulted him up this list. For the first time in his five-year career, he garnered a [First-Team] All-Pro selection, which was well deserved after a 110-tackle season that also included 12 passes defended. According to PFF, those 12 pass breakups represent "the most we have ever seen over a season from that position." He's consistently one of the best coverage linebackers in football, which matters more in the modern, pass-happy version of the sport.

Since he entered the league in 2015, he ranks fifth in combined tackles and second in passes defended among all linebackers. As the Vikings try to overcome the losses of several key contributors on the defensive side of the ball, they'll need Kendricks to maintain his level of production in 2020. The good news is that there's no real reason to expect a drop-off.

At the age of 28, after a career-best season and entering his sixth NFL season, Kendricks is more likely to be entering his peak than his decline.

Kendricks Strips Henry of The Ball, Waynes Picks Up The Fumble Kendricks came in behind Seattle's Bobby Wagner on Wagner-McGough's list. The Vikings have become all-too familiar with Wagner during their regular trips to the Pacific Northwest, and they will face him again during the 2020 season. Wagner-McGough said that Wagner "does it all," and it's hard to argue that.

[Luke] Kuechly is the only player who has recorded more combined tackles than Wagner during the past 10 seasons. He's also recorded 10 interceptions in his career. He's durable, having missed only nine games in eight seasons. He's remarkably consistent, having been named [First-Team] All-Pro in five of his eight seasons. He played a huge role on some of the greatest defenses in NFL history, during the Legion of Boom's peak. … Last year, at the age of 29, he notched the second-most tackles of his career.

2019 Season in Photos: Vikings LB Eric Kendricks View the top photos of Vikings LB Eric Kendricks from the 2019 season.

After Wagner and Kendricks, Wagner-McGough's ranking of linebackers was as follows: Darius Leonard (Colts), Demario Davis (Saints), C.J. Mosley (Jets), Lavonte David (Buccaneers), Leighton Vander Esch (Cowboys), Roquan Smith (Bears), Fred Warner (49ers) and Tremaine Edmunds (Bills).

Vikings roster ranked 17th strongest by ESPN

Which NFL team has the strongest roster – on paper – heading into a new season?

ESPN teamed up with analytics site Pro Football Focus to rank the squads according to strength. ESPN wrote:

With the 2020 draft and free agency behind us, we're breaking down each team's roster using the Pro Football Focus database with an eye toward the projected starters. Using both the PFF grades from the 2019 season – a number that is included for every projected starter – and a more comprehensive look at each player's career using both PFF grades and statistics, here's how the 32 rosters stack up heading into next season.

The Vikings ranked 17th on the list, with safety Anthony Harris having the team's highest PFF grade (91.1), followed by Kendricks (90.1).

Vikings 2020 Roster in Photos View photos of the Vikings 2020 roster as of June 21, 2020.

For each team, designations were made for Biggest Strength, Biggest Weakness and X Factor for 2020.

Minnesota's safety duo of Harris and Harrison Smith (88.4) was tabbed as the team's biggest strength, saying the pair is "comfortably one of the best tandems in the NFL."

As far as weakness, it was pointed out that questions still face the Vikings offensive line and that there are "a lot of things to work out" heading into the 2020 season.

Rookie cornerback Jeff Gladney, whom the Vikings drafted 31st overall, was spotlighted as Minnesota's X Factor for this season.

Minnesota underwent a wholesale change at cornerback this offseason, saying goodbye to starters Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes and while selecting Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler in the 2020 draft. Last season's starters struggled overall, but that is still a lot of turnover in one offseason. Gladney is the rookie to watch when it comes to making an impact early. He was tested heavily downfield in the Big 12, but he stood up to that test. Gladney's 47 percent completion percentage allowed ranked first among FBS cornerbacks with at least 1,000 coverage snaps from 2016 through 2019.

Former Vikings FB Zach Line coaching at alma mater

Former Vikings fullback Zach Line, who played 35 games for Minnesota from 2013-16 before spending three seasons with the Saints, is trying his hand at coaching.

Line retired following the 2019 season and took over at the helm of his alma mater, Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan. He will follow his former coach Bud Rowley, who won 264 games in more than four decades as the Wildcats' head coach.

Line, who played collegiately for SMU, recently spoke with PonyFans.com about this next step in his career.

"Following [Rowley], I obviously have some huge shoes to fill," Line told the site. "Of course it's a huge challenge to follow someone like that, but he left me with players who are disciplined, who work hard and are hard-nosed. Oxford always has had players with a lot of physicality and toughness, and the guys I have now are like that."

Like every other team in the country, Oxford's offseason was affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which cost the Wildcats several spring practices, the strength and conditioning work that is put in during the month of May and some seven-on-seven work. The team just recently resumed outdoor offseason conditioning workouts within the restrictions set by the Michigan High School Athletic Association, sometimes with his wife and daughters — "my cheerleaders," he calls them — there to watch.

[…]

Raising three daughters who are under the age of five is not the same, obviously, as leading a team of high school football players. But Line said that there are definite overlaps between the two roles.

"I think I have to have even more patience at home than I do as a coach," Line said. "If the 4-year-old does something wrong, the 3-year-old will follow suit, because she looks up to her sister. It's the same thing with players: the seniors need to be the leaders. If they do something wrong, the younger guys will follow suit. When your leaders establish the way to do things, the others follow suit. They learn by example."